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· By Isobel Hush
Pride Month
SB X MERMAIDS
Our scents are for all genders. There are no outsiders at S&B, all are welcome, always. We support everyone’s right to express themselves fully – all profits from our fragrance Mermaid Kisses go to www.mermaids.org.uk supporting people dealing with gender diversity.
How you can help
Each and every one of these charities does great work to support the community in several different ways, we have compiled a small summary of each charity below along with links to their own websites. Please read about all the brilliant work they do and support them in any way you can. And remember love is love.
ALWAYS. TRUE. TO YOU
The team at Shay & Blue are restlessly focused on inclusion and celebrating YOU, no matter your race, sexuality or how you identify yourself. We encourage knowledge and self awareness across the spectrum of privilege and injustice in every circumstance. However, it is hard to ignore the growing situation regarding race across the globe. #BlackLivesMatter
There are many ways in which we encourage everyone to get involved from education to signing petitions and much more. You can find out more here.
Mermaids
Mermaids are a UK charity that help transgender children and young people, as well as their families. They work to raise awareness about gender nonconformity and campaign for the recognition of gender dysphoria.
Today, Mermaids has evolved into one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ charities, empowering thousands of people with its secure online communities, local community groups, helpline services, web resources, events and residential weekends.
They also seek to educate and inform wider society on gender identity by helping professionals accommodate and reassure gender-variant young people.
All Out is a global movement fighting for a world where NO ONE has to sacrifice their family, freedom, safety, or dignity because of who they are or who they love. They mobilise thousands of people around the world to stand up for LGBT rights. When a moment of crisis or opportunity comes up – like an anti-gay law going to a vote or a crackdown on a Pride march – All Out works closely with partners to come up with inspiring ways for their members to take action. From signing a petition to joining a protest, from sharing on social media to making a donation, All Out members turn solidarity into action every single day.
Photo by Joshua Stitt on Unsplash
LGBT Foundation
Another great charity, which is a mental health resource for LGBT+ people, is LGBT Foundation.
LGBT Foundation is a national UK charity delivering advice, support and information to LGBT+ communities.
Services and activities include a range of support groups, counselling, helpline, email and pop-in service, befriending scheme, sexual health programme, substance-misuse project, organisational training, and a range of guides and resources.
Born This Way Foundation is committed to supporting the wellness of young people and empowering them to create a kinder and braver world. To achieve these goals, Born This Way Foundation leverages rigorous academic research and authentic partnerships in order to provide young people with kinder communities, improved mental health resources, and more positive environments – online and offline. Led by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, Born This Way Foundation was founded in 2012 with the goal of creating a kinder and braver world. Young people are key to that mission and that’s why we work to provide youth with genuine opportunities, quality resources, and platforms to make their voices heard.
MIND LGBTQ
UK mental health charity Mind has a specific section for LGBTQ people, where you can access information about mental health support.
Mind’s page on mental health and being LGBTQ+ reads: “Those of us who identify as LGBTQ+ are more likely to experience a mental health problem than the wider population.
“This is because LGBTQ+ people experience bullying, rejection, stigma and discrimination which too often lead to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and isolation.”
Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images
Gendered Intelligence (GI) is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, established in 2008. Their mission is to increase understandings of gender diversity through creative ways. Their vision is of a world where people are no longer constrained by narrow perceptions expectations of gender, and where diverse gender expressions are visible and valued. They work with the trans community and those who impact on trans lives; they particularly specialise in supporting young trans people aged 8-25.
Kaleidoscope Trust
The Kaleidoscope Trust supports the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people all around the world.
They work with parliamentarians, government ministers, officials and policymakers to make a difference.
However, donations are vital for the international trust to continue helping persecuted LGBT communities.
London Gaymers is the UK’s biggest LGBT+ gaymer community. London Gaymers was established in 2012 as a social group to help LGBT+ gamers in London to find and make new friends in a safe and welcoming environment. Since then they have continued to grow into a thriving gaymer community. They hold regular meet ups every month, online tournaments and have an active Discord server where you’ll find other gaymers to play with. They always ensure they retain the friendly and accepting values that make London Gaymers such a great place to hang out and meet new people.
Manchester Pride is a charity which campaigns for equality; challenges discrimination; creates opportunity for engagement and participation; celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender life; and fundraises to enrich and empower LGBT organisations, charities and communities in Greater Manchester. The charity delivers an annual programme of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT+) events in Greater Manchester. This includes the Manchester Pride Spring Benefit, events recognising International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), our year-round calendar of culture, Superbia and our flagship event, The Manchester Pride Festival.
Every year OutdoorLads volunteers organise over 1,200 adventure activities – like hiking, climbing, cycling and camping. The charities primary objectives include the improvement of the physical and mental well-being of gay, bi and trans men and over 90% of participants say events are friendly, welcoming, fun and well run. The physical and mental benefits of outdoor physical activity are well documented and many members share with us the life-changing impact OutdoorLads has had on them. Many then go on to become volunteer leaders themselves, organising further adventure activities so that more and more people benefit from the OutdoorLads ‘magic’.
OutRight seeks to advance human rights and opportunities for LGBTIQ people around the world by developing critical partnerships at global, regional, and national levels to build capacity, document violations, advocate for inclusion and equality, and hold leaders accountable for protecting the rights of all LGBTIQ people. Today, they partner with local LGBTIQ organizations across four regions and maintain a cross-regional LGBTIQ initiative at the UN in New York. As an international LGBTIQ organization with a long history of productive and trusting relationships with grassroots LGBTIQ communities worldwide, we serve as a bridge between local communities and high-impact external levers of power.
Pride in London is wholly run by a group of volunteers who are passionate about equality and diversity. They are a not-for-profit organisation, and any surplus funds they raise are used to support the LGBTQ community and improve the event. Together, they run the UK’s biggest, most diverse pride, and their job is to make sure they provide a platform for every part of London’s LGBT+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer, questioning, intersex, non-binary, asexual, polysexual, genderqueer and gender variant people) to raise awareness of LGBT+ issues and campaign for the freedoms that will allow them to live their lives on a genuinely equal footing.
Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging. Founded on March 4th 1974 Switchboard’s information and support helpline operated for five hours every evening in a small room above a bookshop near Kings Cross Station. Because of almost immediate, rapidly increasing demand, it soon became a 24-hour service. They have provided support and information to millions of people since their phone started ringing in 1974. Throughout their history, they have been at the forefront of supporting our communities in facing the issues of the day.
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Canada
Mexico
Rest of the world
United Kingdom
United States